TITLE
Recommendation to direct City Clerk to place an advisory question on the April 8, 2014 citywide election ballot asking Long Beach voters: "Should the City of Long Beach allow the sale, use and possession of state approved fireworks within the city limits?"; and request the Office of the Mayor to designate persons, or associations of persons, to write arguments either for or against or both for and against the approval of the advisory question placed on the ballot.
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach currently prohibits the sale and use of fireworks in Long Beach, other than by a licensed public display.
However, many surrounding cities, including Carson, Compton, Bellflower, Paramount, Lakewood and Hawaiian Gardens, allow the sale of fireworks, making them easily accessible for purchase, often just across the street from the City's boundaries.
While the Police Department deploys maximum resources on the 4th of July, press reports indicate that they do not have the coverage to adequately enforce the fireworks ban.
By allowing the sale and use of Safe and Sane fireworks in Long Beach, the police department can focus their enforcement efforts on illegal fireworks.
In other adjacent communities, local non-profit groups raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support their organizations in the one-week period during which the sale of fireworks is allowed, while the cities receive revenue in sales tax, permits and other fees.
The City should have a public discussion about whether the residents of Long Beach would like to continue the citywide ban on Safe and Sane fireworks. By posing an advisory question on the April 2014 citywide ballot, the City Council can get a good sense of the public sentiment on the fireworks ban at relatively little cost.
If a majority of the public votes in support of allowing the sale and use of Safe and Sane fireworks in Long Beach, the City Council can work on crafting an ordinance that addresses public safety concerns...
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